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UAE meets investors for Ghalilah IWP

28 May 2024

 

Etihad Water & Electricity (Etihad WE) has recently held a market-sounding event for an independent water project (IWP) in the UAE's northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.

Sources also tell MEED that engineering consultancy firms have submitted bids for the Ghalilah IWP 1 technical advisory contract.

The project is for the extension of an existing seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant in Ghalilah, which became operational in 2015. 

Etihad WE's chief executive, Yousif Al Ali, told MEED in April that the final capacity of the Ghalilah plant extension was still being decided, although the potential capacity could range between 30 million imperial gallons a day (MIGD) and 90 MIGD.

US-based Aquatech constructed the first SWRO plant in Ghalilah, which has a water production capacity of 15 MIGD.

Formerly the Federal Electricity & Water Authority (Fewa), Etihad WE maintains at least three water desalination plants that are all on reverse osmosis technology.

The other plants are located in Naqaa and Zawrah.

Etihad WE is understood to have invested over AED2bn in recent years to enhance its transmission and storage capabilities, notably through projects like the Khuraijah water distribution centre, which has a capacity of 180 million gallons.

MEED's April 2024 special report on the UAE includes:

> COMMENT: UAE rides high on non-oil boom
> GVT & ECONOMY: Non-oil activity underpins UAE economy
> BANKING: UAE banks seize the moment
> UPSTREAM: Adnoc oil and gas project spending sees steep uptick
> DOWNSTREAM: UAE builds its downstream and chemical sectors
> POWER: UAE marks successful power project deliveries
> WATER: Dubai tunnels project dominates UAE pipeline
> DUBAI CONSTRUCTION: Dubai real estate boosts construction sector
> ABU DHABI CONSTRUCTION: Abu Dhabi makes major construction investments

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Jennifer Aguinaldo

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